When a mandatory reporter must reportEach state has a timeline for when mandatory reporter has to make a report. States have typically decided that a mandatory reporter must report when he or she either knows or has a reasonable belief that a child has been abused.

Penalties for not reportingMany states have said that a mandatory reporter can be penalized for not reporting. Most states have made it a crime. Only two states (North Carolina and Wyoming) consider not reporting a crime.

Seven states have determined that a victim can sue a mandatory reporter who does not report. These states are:

Arkansas

Colorado

Iowa

Michigan

Montana

New York

Rhode Island

Coaches as mandatory reporters
A number of states require coaches to report abuse. These states include:

California

Colorado

Connecticut

District of Columbia

Iowa

Louisiana

Minnesota

Oregon

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Every adult must report
If you're an adult living in Indiana, Oklahoma or Wyoming and reasonably believe that a child is being abused, you are required by law to report the abuse.